Do you love espresso, cappuccino and the like? Then you definitely need a portafilter machine at home. But which one? And above all, what type of machine? There are those with a boiler and there are thermoblock portafilter machines! There are single and double boiler machines and then there are those with a dual boiler. For beginners in the field, this can all be a bit confusing. That's why we and our coffee blog are here. We'll take a closer look at the topic of thermoblock portafilter machines and talk about the other types of portafilter machines at the same time.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – what machine types are available
Let's start with the basic types of portafilter machines. There are thermoblock portafilter machines and machines with a boiler. The boiler machines are then divided into single and double circuit machines, i.e. with one or two separate water circuits. And then one level higher are the dual boiler machines, which not only have two water circuits, but also a boiler for each circuit. Of course, there are also three-group machines with several boilers and thermoblocks for professionals in the catering industry. We'll ignore these here, because a non-gastro machine is perfectly sufficient for home use.
The Thermoblock portafilter machine
In particular, inexpensive portafilter machines on the market, let's say up to 500 euros, almost certainly have a thermoblock. This is a continuous flow heater that allows the machine to reach operating temperature very quickly. The water runs through a pipe with a heating element running parallel to it. Sometimes two thermoblocks are installed, one for the water, one for the steam. The differences in quality are large: there are thermoblock portafilter machines with very fluctuating temperatures and others with very constant temperatures.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – Boiler: single circuit
The next step is the single-circuit portafilter machine. It has a boiler that can set temperatures very consistently and precisely. The problem here is that the water for your espresso and for the steam comes from the same boiler and from just one circuit. Single-circuit machines are particularly suitable for pure espresso drinkers. Of course, you can also froth milk with these machines, but it takes time. First you have to heat the water in the boiler to frothing temperature, then you can froth. By "flushing" (letting out the water and adding cold water from the boiler) you cool the machine back down to brewing temperature.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – Boiler: dual circuit
Like single-circuit machines, dual-circuit portafilter machines only have one boiler. But they have two pipe systems. One for brewing and the other for frothing the milk. The brewing circuit is heated up less than the frothing circuit. If you have purchased a machine with a sufficiently large boiler, you can look forward to relatively stable brewing temperatures and good frothing. Dual-circuit machines can be found in private households and sometimes in restaurants.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – dual boiler
As the name suggests, dual boiler machines have two boilers. One for brewing and one for frothing milk. This gives you full control over the temperatures and the brewing processes. Of course, such machines cost a little more and require more heating time overall than, for example, thermoblock portafilter machines. Multi-group portafilter machines also have three or more boilers.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – advantages and disadvantages
Now you might think: what I need is a dual boiler machine. Because they are the best and I only want the best. If you only want the best and can afford it, then go for it. The machines are great. For anyone who has a small budget but still likes to drink espresso, single or dual boiler machines and a thermoblock portafilter machine are also suitable. The advantages of the latter are definitely the heating time, which is very short, you can also get larger quantities of water with small devices and they are less likely to get calcified.
PS: We always recommend using filtered water. Then the espresso tastes better. You can find an article about the optimal coffee and espresso water here.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – structure and function
Let's take a closer look at the structure of a Thermoblock portafilter machine. As already mentioned, they work like a continuous flow heater. Instead of a boiler with hot water, there is a water tank and a spiral pipe that is integrated into an aluminum block. A heating element runs parallel to the water pipe, which heats the water as it flows through. The heating element heats up quickly, which is why the Thermoblock machine is ready for use much faster than the boiler model. How the pipe is installed and how long it is has a significant influence on the stability of the water temperature. However, the larger the block, the more constant the temperature. The material of the pipe definitely influences the price of the machine: copper pipes are mainly found in more expensive models, while cheaper models only have a water spiral milled into the Thermoblock.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – the milk foam
Thermoblock machines foam differently. First of all, the biggest difference to boiler machines is that the steam for the steam wand in thermoblock portafilter machines comes in bursts and does not flow continuously. Of course, this varies from machine to machine, but the pump in thermoblock machines works in bursts and brings small amounts of water into the thermoblock to create the pressure for the steam wand. This usually means that the milk foam is not as firm and not as creamy as with boiler machines.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – why buy one?
As already mentioned, there are many portafilter machines with a thermoblock for under 500 euros. But that doesn't mean that there aren't more expensive thermoblock machines. You can also get them for 2,000 euros. In this price range, we also get single and double boiler machines as well as dual boiler machines. The main argument remains the price, and a thermoblock portafilter machine is therefore particularly suitable for beginners. With these machines and the right beans, you can conjure up excellent espresso and also prepare milk coffee specialties such as cappuccino or latte macchiato.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – questions you should ask yourself
Now you're still not sure, are you? Ask yourself the following questions to find out which functions/features you want or need in a portafilter machine.
1. Do you have time or do you need to do it quickly?
If you need it quickly, a thermoblock portafilter machine is the right choice. This takes two to three minutes. Boiler machines can also take 5 to 15 minutes.
2. Do you drink pure espresso or do you prefer a latte speciality?
You can also make café au lait drinks with a thermoblock machine. It just takes a little longer and the foam won't be as nice as with boiler machines. So if milk foam is essential for you or you even like elaborate latte art, then you should get a dual boiler or even a dual boiler machine.
3. How perfectly should your espresso be extracted?
Temperature fluctuations are normal with thermoblock machines, even during brewing. Your brewing water could be too hot or too cold when it hits the coffee powder. This can cause your espresso to taste too sour or too bitter. More expensive thermoblock models have a PID control and a PID regulator built in. This allows you to adjust the temperature easily. Otherwise, it's just a boiler machine with stable temperatures.
4. Do you want to get started easily or do you want to go straight to work professionally?
As I said, you can also make good espresso and latte with cheap thermoblock machines. Here you can often set the grind, brewing time and a few other values - the machine does the rest. If you want to delve deeper into the science of espresso brewing with brewing time, grind, brew ratio etc., then you can also get a single or double boiler machine or even a dual boiler machine. If you like things simple and intuitive, then you're better off going for a cheap thermoblock portafilter machine.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – and which model?
We can't recommend a single machine to you. We haven't tested all the machines and of course we have boiler machines ourselves. But here are a few of the best-known brands that make thermoblock portafilter machines and that are suitable for home use: Sage, for example with the Barista line, DeLonghi , Gaggia , Quickmill and Ascaso . There are many more and you can conjure up good espressos with these too. It always depends on your budget, what you want to use it for and what your requirements are.
Thermoblock portafilter machine – Conclusion
The thermoblock portafilter machine has the advantage that it is ready for use more quickly than boiler machines, many machines already come with everything you need, integrated grinder, tamper, brush, etc. So you can get started right away and just have to find a few settings like grinding level and brewing time. Because of the often low prices, these machines are particularly suitable for beginners. For advanced users and professionals and for those who have both time and want decent milk foam, boiler machines with multiple circuits or even multiple boilers are more suitable. Basically, a thermoblock portafilter machine is a good thing - because a real espresso comes from a portafilter machine. And once you have decided, you can find the perfect espresso beans for your new portafilter machine here .
